Sideswipe: December 4: Tyrannosaurus West

"Most of our extended family are very beachy people," writes Lois of Glendene. "But one of my twin 9-year-old grand-daughters is the exception. She was quizzing her mother the other day about funerals and what happens to your body after you die. My daughter explained that many people were cremated and wished to have their ashes scattered in a special place, perhaps a lovely beach. 'Ugh, I hate the beach, I want to be scattered at the mall!"'

Overtaking needs speed

Speed tolerances have been lowered from 10km/h to 4km/h this month and a reader has crunched a few numbers on the subject. "If a vehicle has to pass safely using the 4km/h grace, we would need a 2.6km (91 seconds) passing lane to complete the passing manoeuvre. Assumptions based on the following: 1. Vehicle being overtaken is travelling at 100km/h. 2. Five metres is the average length of the vehicle. 3. Passing vehicle is to slot 10m in front of the vehicle being passed.

4. Passing vehicle was following a safe three-second following distance prior to commencing the manoeuvre."

Grey Lynn Festival cellphone thief

Sarah writes: "At the Grey Lynn Festival on Saturday, my daughter's mobile fell out of her pocket. A few minutes later, she rang the number and the low-life who answered it said, 'Thanks for the phone', before ringing off. Hoping for swift karmic retribution."

A use for Waiatarua tower

A reader writes: "We wonder with the demise of analogue TV what will they do with the Waiatarua transmission tower which sits on the Waitakere ranges. We hope that they use it for some cellphone transmission equipment. We live directly across the Oratia valley from the tower, but in the lee of the foothills from the city CBD. The household [3 teenagers and 2 parents] struggles with reception for all mobile phone companies."

Rules that some landlords follow

Whose responsibility is providing the dish/aerial for digital TV in a rental? Some say it's the tenant and that this is a user pays world. "The TV dish is something you WANT and is not a necessity of life in any home." But other readers see it differently. "Landlords should never consider making relatively inexpensive improvements to their property investment. Creating and maintaining an acrimonious relationship with ALL tenants is an utterly paramount tactic. And any experienced landlords and property investors will tell you this. It's the number one rule. The more angry, bitter and disrespected tenants feel, the better they will treat your property. Not to mention that only an idiot would want to add any sort of value at all to their investments."

Picture this #2: "These 35mm slides bought at the Wellington rubbish dump shop in the early 2000s. Starts with the photographer proudly showing off their brand new Skoda. The narrative from there on in is pretty self explanatory." - Steve Kerr